Wefted hair structure and method of construction

ABSTRACT

In a wig or other hair structure of wefted construction, each weft of hair is secured to one longitudinal edge of a flexible ribbon. The opposite longitudinal edge portion of the ribbon is attached to the base of the structure, the ribbon having sufficient width between the weft and the points of attachment to provide a flexible hinge support for the weft of hair to thereby permit free movement of the hair with the ribbon in directions transversely of the length of the ribbon. With ribbons disposed on the base in generally parallel relationship to one another, reversibility in the lay of the hair is provided. Besides the basic weft-ribbon configuration, double weft, stacked weft, loop and star configurations are disclosed, and special double ribbon embodiments for providing a line of hair concentration at a part.

[ 11] 3,777,768 [45] Dec. 11, 1973 United States Patent i191 Scigliano Primary Examiner- Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-Gregory E. McNeill Attorney-Thomas M. Scofield [75] `Josef Scigliano, Shawnee, Kans.

[73] Assignee: Eva Gabor International, Ltd.,

North Kansas City, Mo.

Aug. 21, 1972 ABSTRACT [22] Filed:

FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATION S 19 Claims,18 Drawing Figures PATENTE() DEC 1 l |975 SHEET 3 0F 3 WEFTED HAIR STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION This invention relates to improvements in wefted hair structures and methods of constructing the same and, more specifically, to a construction which provides the hair with significantly increased mobility to enhance the combability .and stylability of the hair.

The popularity of wigs, wiglets and hairpieces as a common cosmetic item has increased considerably in recent years in many countries. With this increasing market for hair products, manufacturers and designers have undertaken to satisfy the widening market, such as through the introduction of artificial fibers for the hair and the availability of a greater variety of styles and models of wigs. l

One important factor in the increasing market for wig products is the reduction of the price which must be paid by the consumer. Besides the use of artificial f'ibers, the employment of wefted wig construction has contributed materially to this since less labor .is involved in fabrication than with a hand-tied wig. I-Iowever, the weftedwig presents a disadvantage in that the hair must be styled and combed in a manner so as to not reveal the underlying base, whetherA the wig employs an undercap or is of the more recent capless construction. The spaces between the wefts of hair contribute to the stylability limitation, as does lthe manner in which the wefts are held in place. Presently, the wefts are simply sewn to the underlying base and thus the hair tends to lay in a particular direction rather than being multi-directional as is the case with natural human hairon the scalp or, to a certain extent, the hair of a more expensive, hand-tied wig.

An an explanatory note, a weft of hair as discussed above and as the term is used hereinbelow refers to a piece of hair material formed by a multitude of'strands of hair that are' initially laid side by side, and which are bent over on one another centrally to normally give an equal length on each side of the bend or line of fold. The hair adjacent the line of fold is then doubled over to increase the thickness thereof and this assemblage is stitched together along the doubled portion with a number of longitudinal stitches. This narrow strip of stitching, therefore, becomes the root portions of the hair and the entire assembly is referred to as a weft. It is these stitched root portions of the assembly that are sewed to theunderlying base at desired points of attachment to forma composite hair structure, such as af'wig, wiglet or hairpiece.

Commonly, wefts of hair are sewedto a standard wig base which could be a cap or any capless configuration. The capless variety may comprise a plurality of intersecting strips of material or laces in a simple crisscross pattern or a spider web configuration, for example. Alternatively` the honeycomb base is also popular. However, none of these bases provides a hair structure with free mobility of the hair, since the wefts are stitched directly at their roots to the underlying base. It may also be appreciated that another difficulty is in the strength that is afforded by the capless configuration, inasmuch as the points of attachment of the wefts to the base are limited and the strength of the hair between the points of attachment depends solely on the inherent strength ofthe weft construction. With usage, it is not unusual for the wefts to begin to deteriorate since they are weak and loose between points of attachment, and a particularly acute problem is presented where two wefts must be spliced. 'i v l It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide a wefted hair structure wherein the hair thereof has significantly increased mobility so as to not be limited to a particular direction of lay, thereby providing a hair product having increased combability due to the mobility of the hair and increased stylability since the mobile characteristic of the hair enables versatilty in styling while still concealing the underlying base from view. i

Asia corollary to the foregoing object, it is an important aim of this invention to provide a wefted hair structure in which the lay of the hair is reversible, thereby further increasing the versatility of the styling.

Furthermore, it is an important object of this invention to provide an improved wefted hair structure having front-to-back reversibility, particularly in the areas of wigs and wiglets which overlie the crown region of the wearers head, thereby providing styling capabilities heretofore unobtainable in a wefted hair structure.

It is also an important object of this invention to provide `a method of constructing la wefted wig or 'other wefted hair structure in such a manner that the weftsl of hair are mobile and not limited to a single direction of lay. v

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide a novel weft construction which in its basic form is in the nature of a weft-ribbon combination wherein the weft of hair is secured to one longitudinal edge of a flexible ribbon, such ribbon being attached to an underlying base at points of attachment spaced from said edge and the root portions of the weft a sufficient distance to provide a flexible hinge support for the weft. In this manner, the strands of hair constituting the weft are permitted free movement with the ribbon about ythe points of attachment in directions transversely of the length of the ribbon.

In furtherance of the preceding object, important objectives of this invention include the provision of double weft,'stacked weft, and hair cluster configurations, and double ribbon modifications particularly adapted for the forming of parts.

Yet another important object of the present invention, and a' basic feature thereofis to provide a wefted hair structure of increased strength wherein the root portions of the wefts are stitched to supporting ribbons between points of attachment of the ribbons to the underlying base, thereby providing positive support for the wefts between points of attachment and enabling a strong splice to be made where necessary.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view (from the rear and right side) of a wig incorporating the improvements of the present invention, the wig being shown in place on the head of a wearer and the hair illustrated primarily in outline form in order to reveal details of construction;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the wig of FIG. l, removed from the wearers head;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the wig of FIGS. 1 and 2 on the same scale as FIG. 2, the hair again being shown only fragmentarily to reveal details of construction;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail of the weft-ribbon of the present invention, showing the same attached to the underlying base;

FIG. 5 is a view taken at right angles to FIG. 4 showing the flexible hinge action of the ribbon;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are diagrammatic side views illustrating the front-to-back reversibility that may be achieved with the present invention, the two views being identical except for the direction of lay of the hair;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of a portion of the wig construction shown in FIGS. l-3, illustrating the right angle intersections formed by the ribbons and the strips of the underlying base;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but showing a modified form of wig construction where the ribbons run on a bias with respect to the underlying strips;

FIG. 10 is a detail showing the weft-ribbon of the present invention doubled over upon itself to increase the thickness of the hair (the ribbon is illustrated viewing one longitudinal edge thereof);

FIG. ll is a detail illustrating looping of the weftribbon to present a cluster of hair;

FIG. 12 is a detail in the nature of a cross section through the ribbon and illustrates a double weft modification;

FIG. I3 is a detail of a second modified weft-ribbon, showing a stacked weft configuration;

FIG. 14 illustrates a third modification in the form of a double ribbon configuration;

FIG. 15 is similar to FIG. 14 with the addition of a secondary ribbon attaching the double ribbons to the underlying base;

FIG. 16 shows a double weft, double ribbon arrangement particularly useful in forming a part;

FIG. I7 is adetail of a loop viewed from the top, and illustrates a looped double weft for forming a cluster of hair; and

FIG. I8 is a top plan view of a star configuration shown attached to an underlying honeycomb base which is fragmentarily illustrated.

THE REVERSIBLE WIG after, the wig 20 is reversible front to back depending upon the style desired, since the hair will fall freely in either direction along the fore-and-aft axis of the wig. The wig construction disclosed herein is a capless configuration employing a base consisting of tive foundation strips or tapes 22 extending front to back in -generally parallel relationship to one another, an annular band 24 defining the perimeter of the base, and a flexible panel 26 of fabric or plastic construction which4 for purposes of reference will be considered to be located at the front of the wig.A The forward ends' of the three center strips 22 are attached to the arcuate upper edge portion of the panel 26, and their rearward ends are sewed to the band 24. The laterally outermoststrips 22 have their front and rear ends sewed to the band 24 as is clear in FIG. 3. The purpose of the panel 26 extending upwardly from the front portion of the band 24 is to provide a backing upon which individual strands or groups of strands of hair of relatively short length may be hand tied. The major portion of wig 20, however, is of wefted construction as will be discussed.

Thev side portions of the wig base extend from the laterally outermost strips l22 to the side margins of the base. More particularly, one side portion may be clearly seen in FIG. 3 and generally lies in the area circumscribed by the strip 22 closest to the viewer and the segment of the band 24 spanning the terminal ends of such strip. The central portion of the wig base extends front to back between the laterally outermost strips 22 from the forward to the rearward portions of the head encircling band 24. Of particular interest is the area of the central portion which overlies the crown region of the wearers head, since it is throughout this region that the reversible feature of the wig 20 is of special importance.

The hair of the Wig 20 is in the form of a plurality of pieces of hair material extending laterally across the base from side to side behind the panel 26. Each piece of material comprises a flexible ribbon 28V to which a weft of hair 30 is attached. The ribbon 28 is, in turn, attached to the underlying strips 22; therefore, there is no direct attachment by stitching or otherwise of the weft 30 to the base strips 22.

The particular construction of the weft-ribbon is best seen in FIGS. 4, 5 and 8. The ribbon 28 may be of cotton fabric or may be composed of an elastic material if a stretchable wig is desired. Particularly in FIG. 5, it may be seen that each of the ribbons 28 has a free longitudinal edge 32, the opposite longitudinal edge portion 34 of the ribbon 28 being attached to the underlying strips 22 by lines of stitching 36 best illustrated in FIG. 8. The root portions 38 of the weft 30 are secured to the ribbon 28 by a line of stitching 40 clearly shown in FIG. 4. The stitching 40 secures the root portions 38 to the ribbon 28 adjacent the longitudinal edge 32, thus the free strands of hair extend outwardly away from the edge 32 and there is no interference between the hair and the ribbon 28.

As may be appreciated from FIGS. 1-3 and 8, the wefts 30 and associated ribbons 28 are attached to the base strips 22 in generally parallel relationship with one another, and extend laterally across the base from side to side. Accordingly, each weft-ribbon extends across the base approximately a right angle to the fore-and-aft axis of the wig 20. The significance of this arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 5 where the flexible hinge action of one of the ribbons 28 is shown. The width of the ribbon between the root portions 38 of the weft 30 and the points of attachment to the base strips 22 is sufficient to provide a flexible hinge support for the strands of hair, as depicted by the broken line illustrations of the ribbon 28 and attached weft 30. The free width of the ribbon 28 is preferably from approximately one-eighth to one-quarter inch. As is illustrated, the weft-ribbon is freely movable about the points of attachment to the strips 22 in directions transversely of the length of the ribbon 28. Accordingly, the wig 20 is reversible since the hair may fall freely in either direction along the` fore-and-aft axis of the wig.

The spacing between the wefts 30 on the base is dictated by the hair thickness desired for particular portions of the wig 20. lt may be noted in FIG. 3 that the first four ribbons 28 adjacent the panel 26 are attached to the base in opposed relationship tothe other ribbons 28, but this is a matter of choice for the particular wig design illustrated and all ribbons may be attached in the same orientation if desired.

In FIG. 6 the outline 42 depicts the shape of the hair of the wig 20, and the outline 44 in FIG. 7 also illustrates the shape of the hair for the same orientation of the underlying base (represented by the outline 46). The only difference between the illustrations of FIGS. 6 and 7 is in the direction of lay of the hair, and of course the wearer would be facing in opposite directions. In FIG. 7 the hair is permitted to fall in the direction illustrated in FIG. I where the longer hair in the wefts 30 at the back of the wig hangs freely down the back of the neck of the wearer. In FIG. 6 the hair is reversed but the base 46 remains in the lsame orientation.l Now the longer hair lays over the top of the base and extends downwardlyover the panel 26 to create an entirely different style in which the hair at the neck is somewhat shorter. 'The reversal is caused by the hinge action of the ribbons 28. Again referring to FIG. 3, the ribbons 28 shown laid to the left with respect to their points lof attachment 36 are now laid over to the right as viewed in FIG. 3 and lay in the same direction as the first four ribbons 28 adjacent the panel 26.

In order to have the styling advantages of the reversible wig construction of the present invention, it is 'not necessary in all instances that the entire'wefted portion of the wig be arranged in a laterally extending, parallel weft configuration. Some style-s may require that the portions of the wig at the wearers temples, for example, be constructed of wefts traversing the base in other than laterall directions. Accordingly, the area of the central portion of the base which overlies the crown region of the wearers head is the area of particular importance from the standpoint of front-to-back reversibility. This area may be visualized in FIG. 3 and lies between the laterally outermost base strips 22, and front to rear between the panel 26 and the ribbon identified 28a inFIG. 3. Note that in the particular wig configuration illustrated herein, closely spaced, laterally extending, parallel wefts 30 are employed beneath the ribbon 28a to4 give a long hair style when the hair is oriented as illustrated in FIG. 7, but other weft arrangements may be employed as dictated by the styling contemplated for a particular wig.

` FIG. 9 is an example of an alternative arrangement of base and weft-ribbons. The ribbons 28 `run on a bias with respect to the underlying strips 48 of the capless type base. As in the figures previously discussed, the ribbons 28 are attached to the strips 48 by linesv of stitching 36. Regardless of the nature of the base, whether in the form` of parallel strips as illustrated, honeycomb material, other capless configurations, or a cap` the same hinge action is provided by the ribbons 28 as illustrated in FIG. '5. For those wefts'that donot extend laterally across thel base from side to side so as to be reversible in fore-and-aft directions, the hinge action provides mobility in directions transversely of the length of the ribbons in order to greatly enhance the combability of the hair. Accordingly, the weft-ribbon of the present invention may be advantageously employed in constructing the entire wefted portion of a wig, wiglet or other hair structure to enhance the combability and stylability of the hair whether or not fore-and-aft reversibility is desired.

Standard methods of fabrication may be employed in the manufacture of the wefted hair structure of the present invention. The manner of construction differs, however, with respect to the joining of the hair to the underlying base. After the wefts are formed, each is sewn to one edge of a flexible ribbonl to form the weftribbon assembly described in detail hereinabove. The ribbons with wefts attached are then sewed to the base in the desired weft configuration dictated by the wig design, thus the method of construction involves an additional step as compared with direct attachment of the wefts to the base due to the flexible mounting provided by the ribbons that intervene between the wefts and the supporting base.

MODIFICATIONS OF THE BASIC WEFT-RIBBON For special features and styling requirements, several modifications of the basic weft-ribbon construction il-l extend throughout the length of the doubled stretch ofi ribbon 28). Accordingly, the facingsurfaces 52 of the ribbon 28 are held in contact by the stitching 50 so that the hair thickness is increased throughout the length of, the doubled ribbon which, in effect, now provides twice.l the hair thickness along a lin`e ofhair concentration cof,

extensive with the doubled ribbon.

In FIG. 11 the ribbon 28 is likewise shown detached.

from the base, a portion of the ribbon being bent back as illustrated to form two side-by-side loops 54. Stitching 56 at the inner ends of the loops 54 maintains the ribbon in the double loop configuration. This arrange-r ment may be employed when it is desired to form a cluster of hair, particularly when it is necessary that the strands of hair have adequate vertical support for the formation of a good curl structure. As will be discussed hereinafter, it is preferred that the points of attachment of the loops 54 to the underlying base (not shown in FIG. 1l) be solely at the inner and outer ends of the loops, thereby leaving the ribbon 28 free to flex between such ends. Y

FIG. 12 illustrates a double weft configuration on a single ribbon 28, this arrangement being for the purpose of increasing the thickness of the hair over that which can be provided by the basic weft-ribbon 'configuration. Twowefts of hair 30a and 3017 are secured to the opposing lmajor surfaces of the ribbon 28 adjacent the free longitudinal edge 32 by a line of stitching 58. The other longitudinal edge portion 34 of the ribbon 28 is shown secured to a suitable base such as the base strips 22 of the wig 20.

In FIG. 13 ya stacked weft arrangement is shown. In this modified configuration two wefts 30a` and 30d are secured to the same major surface of the ribbon 28 with their root portions 38C and 38d extending in parallelism. As in previously described forms of the invention, the root portions of the wefts are sewed to the ribbon 28, the root portions 38d in this instance being secured to the surface of the ribbon between the root portions 38C of the outer 4weft 30C` and the base 22. Additional wefts (not shown) may be added to the stacked weft configuration, and combination double weft and stacked weft assemblies may be employed by combining the teachings of FIGS. 12 and I3.

A double ribbon configuration is illustrated in FIG. 14 and comprises a side-by-side pair of ribbons 28 joined adjacent the base 22 by a line of stitching 60. The line of hair concentration provided by the proximal relationship of the two ribbons 28 is particularly useful in the formation of a part in the hair.

An alternative configuration is shown in FIG. l5 where the proximal pair of ribbons 28' are of somewhat narrower width than in FIG. I4 and are attached to the free longitudinal edge portion of a secondary ribbon 62 by one or more lines of stitching 64. This free edge portion of the secondary ribbon 62 is sandwiched between the ribbon pair 28', and the other longitudinal edge portion 66 is suitably attached to the base 22 in the same manner as the ribbons 28 previously described.

A particularly advantageous hair construction for parts is illustrated in FIG. 16. Four ribbons 28 are shown, the two center ribbons 28 being a double ribbon, double weft assembly embodying the modifications of both FIGS. 12 and 14 described above. The part is formed between the left weft 30h and the right weft 30a carried by the two center ribbons 28. The wefts spaced away from the part may be mounted on the base 22 utilizing the basic weft-ribbon configuration discussed and illustrated in connection with the wig 20, thus the outer ribbons 28 carry single wefts 30. This part configuration is particularly advantageous since the double weft, double ribbon arrangement provides the necessary line of hair concentration and also enables the ribbons 28 and the base 22 to be concealed from view at the part line.

ln FIG. 17 looping of' a double weft is illustrated. The ribbon 28 and attached wefts 30a and 30h are doubled back to form the illustrated loop, the inner and outer ends thereof being sewed to the base strips 22 as illustrated at 68. This forms a dense cluster of hair and, as mentioned above with respect to FIG. l1, the points of attachment to the base are made exclusively at the ends of the loop so that the ribbon between such ends will be free to flex transversely and provide the hair with the increased mobility illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 18 shows an entire ribbon 28 formed into five loops with a common center 70 to present a star configuration. As in FIG. 17, the ribbon 28 ofthe star configuration carries double wefts 30a and 30h for heavy hair concentration in a hair cluster. The star configuration is particularly useful in wiglets and hairpieces and provides for the formation of a superior curl structure. Although a purpose of the star is to cluster the hair so that it will stack up, flexibility and mobility of the hair is still provided since the ribbon 28 is secured to the underlying base only at the center 70 and the tips or outer ends of the loops, as illustrated by the stitches 72. A capless type base composed of honeycomb material 74 is shown since the honeycomb base is a particularly suitable configuration for supporting the star. Note in this connection that the star covers two adjacent pairs of the open cells of the honeycomb material 74, and may be used with other stars attached to adjacent four-cell areas, or with other weft-ribbon arrangements depending upon the type of hair product and the styling desired.

ln summary, the various modifications of the basic weftribbon configuration illustrated in FIGS. 10-18 may be used in any combination needed to give the desired hair design. ln many instances these special modifications will be used in conjunction with the basic weft-ribbon in wigs, wiglets and other hairpieces to add special features of styling or design. The weft-ribbons, either the basic configuration or selected modified configurations, may be arranged on the base of the hair structure in various patterns and combinations, thereby providing an essentially unlimited number of styles and designs as dictated by current fashions.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. ln a hair structure: a base; hair material overlying said base and including a flexible ribbon presenting a longitudinal edge, and a number of strands of hair having root portions secured to said ribbon adjacent said edge; and

means attaching said ribbon to said base at points of attachment spaced from said edge and the root portions of said strands a sufficient distance to provide a flexible hinge support for said strands permitting free movement thereof with said ribbon about said points of attachment in directions transversely of the length of said ribbon.

2. In the hair structure as claimed in claim l, wherein is provided a plurality of pieces of said hair material, said attaching means securing the ribbons of said pieces to said base in generally parallel relationship with one another, whereby to provide reversibility in the lay of the hair in said transverse directions.

3. In the hair structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein said base has a pair of opposed side portions and a central portion extending front-to-back between said side portions, said central portion presenting an area which overlies the crown region of a wearers head when the hair structure is worn, and wherein said ribbons extend laterally across said base at least throughout said area thereof, whereby to provide the hair structure with front-to-back reversibility.

4. In the hair structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein said area of the base includes a plurality of generally parallel foundation strips extending front-to-back, and wherein said attaching means secures said ribbons to the underlying strips at the intersections thereof.

5. In the hair structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein said base has a pair of opposed side margins, and wherein said ribbons extend laterally across said base between said margins, whereby to provide the hair structure with front-to-back reversibility.

6. In the hair structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ribbon has a stretch thereof where the ribbon is laid over upon itself to present a pair of side-by-side ribbon parts, there being means joining said parts together with facing surfaces thereof in contact along substantially the length of said stretch, whereby to increase the hair concentration along said stretch.

7. In the hair structure as claimed in claim l, wherein said ribbon has a portion thereof presenting a loop, whereby to provide a cluster of hair.

8. In the hair structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein said loop presents a pair of opposed ends, said attaching means securing said loop to said base exclusively at points of attachment adjacent said ends.

9. In the hair structure as claimed in claim l, wherein said ribbon presents a pair of opposed major surfaces, and wherein said number of strands of hair comprises a pair of wefts secured to respective surfaces of said ribbon adjacent said edge.

10. ln the hair structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein said ribbon has a portion thereof presenting a loop, whereby to provide a cluster of hair.

l1. In the hair structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein said ribbon comprises a plurality of loops radiating from a common center to present a star configuration, whereby to provide a cluster of hair.

12. In the hair structure as claimed in claim 1l, wherein each of said loops has an outer end remote from said center, said attaching means securing said star configuration to said base exclusively at said center and said ends.

13. ln the hair structure as claimed in claim 11, wherein said base comprises a honeycomb material presenting a number of open cells, said star configuration overlying a plurality of said cells.

14. ln the hair structure as claimed in claim l, wherein said ribbon presents a pair of opposed major surfaces, said number of strands of hair comprising a first weft thereof secured to one of said surfaces, and wherein said hair material further includes a second weft of hair extending in general parallelism with said first weft and having root portions secured to said one surface between the root portions of said first weft and said points of attachment, whereby to provide a stacked weft hair configuration.

l5. ln a hair structure;

a base;

a plurality of pieces of hair material overlying said base,

each of said pieces including a flexible ribbon presenting a longitudinal edge, and a number of strands of hair having root portions secured to said ribbon adjacent sand edge; and

means attaching each of said ribbons to said base at points of attachment spaced from said edge and the root portions of said strands a sufficient distance to provide a flexible hinge support for said strands permitting free movement thereof with the ribbon about said points of attachment in directions transversely of the length of the ribbon,

the ribbons of a pair of said pieces of hair material being disposed on said base in side-by-side, proximal relationship to each other to define a line of hair concentration along the length of said pair of pieces.

16. ln the hair structure as claimed in claim 15,

wherein said attaching means includes a secondary ribbon having opposed, longitudinally extending edge portions, the ribbons of said pair of pieces being secured to said secondary ribbon along one of said edge portions, the opposite edge portion of said secondary ribbon being attached to said base.

17. In the hair structure as claimed in claim 15, wherein each of the ribbons of said pair of pieces presents a pair of opposed major surfaces, and wherein said number of strands of hair of each of said pair of pieces comprises a pair of wefts secured to respective surfaces of the ribbon adjacent said edge, whereby to provide each of said pair of pieces with a double weft to further increase the hair concentration along said line.

18. A method of constructing a hair structure having a base, said method comprising the steps of:

first attaching at least one weft of hair to one edge of a flexible ribbon, and thereafter fixing the other edge of said flexible ribbon to said base in such a manner that said weft may move in two directions transversely of said ribbon as the expanse of ribbon material between the weft attachment and the base attachment flexes.

19. A method of constructing a hair structure wherein the hair thereon is adapted to fall in opposite directions to give a reversible hair structure having two different appearances when worn, and wherein said hair structure has a base, said method comprising the steps of:

attaching a plurality of wefts of hair each to one edge of a plurality of flexible ribbons, and thereafter fixing the other edges of said ribbons to said base in a generally parallel configuration and in such a manner that a transverse expanse of ribbon material remains between the weft attachment and the base attachment of each ribbon.

* lf l 

1. In a hair structure: a base; hair material overlying said base and including a flexible ribbon presenting a longitudinal edge, and a number of strands of hair having root portions secured to said ribbon adjacent said edge; and means attaching said ribbon to said base at points of attachment spaced from said edge and the root portions of said strands a sufficient distance to provide a flexible hinge support for said strands permitting free movement thereof with said ribbon about said points of attachment in directions transversely of the length of said ribbon.
 2. In the hair structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein is provided a plurality of pieces of said hair material, said attaching means securing the ribbons of said pieces to said base in generally parallel relationship with one another, whereby to provide reversibility in the lay of the hair in said transverse directions.
 3. In the hair structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein said base has a pair of opposed side portions and a central portion extending front-to-back between said side portions, said central portion presenting an area which overlies the crown region of a wearer''s head when the hair structure is worn, and wherein said ribbons extend laterally across said base at least throughout said area thereof, whereby to provide the hair structure with front-to-back reversibility.
 4. In the hair structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein said area of the base includes a plurality of generally parallel foundation strips extending front-to-back, and wherein said attaching means secures said ribbons to the underlying strips at the intersections thereof.
 5. In the hair structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein said base has a pair of opposed side margins, and wherein said ribbons extend laterally across said base between said margins, whereby to providE the hair structure with front-to-back reversibility.
 6. In the hair structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ribbon has a stretch thereof where the ribbon is laid over upon itself to present a pair of side-by-side ribbon parts, there being means joining said parts together with facing surfaces thereof in contact along substantially the length of said stretch, whereby to increase the hair concentration along said stretch.
 7. In the hair structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ribbon has a portion thereof presenting a loop, whereby to provide a cluster of hair.
 8. In the hair structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein said loop presents a pair of opposed ends, said attaching means securing said loop to said base exclusively at points of attachment adjacent said ends.
 9. In the hair structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ribbon presents a pair of opposed major surfaces, and wherein said number of strands of hair comprises a pair of wefts secured to respective surfaces of said ribbon adjacent said edge.
 10. In the hair structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein said ribbon has a portion thereof presenting a loop, whereby to provide a cluster of hair.
 11. In the hair structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein said ribbon comprises a plurality of loops radiating from a common center to present a star configuration, whereby to provide a cluster of hair.
 12. In the hair structure as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of said loops has an outer end remote from said center, said attaching means securing said star configuration to said base exclusively at said center and said ends.
 13. In the hair structure as claimed in claim 11, wherein said base comprises a honeycomb material presenting a number of open cells, said star configuration overlying a plurality of said cells.
 14. In the hair structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ribbon presents a pair of opposed major surfaces, said number of strands of hair comprising a first weft thereof secured to one of said surfaces, and wherein said hair material further includes a second weft of hair extending in general parallelism with said first weft and having root portions secured to said one surface between the root portions of said first weft and said points of attachment, whereby to provide a stacked weft hair configuration.
 15. In a hair structure; a base; a plurality of pieces of hair material overlying said base, each of said pieces including a flexible ribbon presenting a longitudinal edge, and a number of strands of hair having root portions secured to said ribbon adjacent sand edge; and means attaching each of said ribbons to said base at points of attachment spaced from said edge and the root portions of said strands a sufficient distance to provide a flexible hinge support for said strands permitting free movement thereof with the ribbon about said points of attachment in directions transversely of the length of the ribbon, the ribbons of a pair of said pieces of hair material being disposed on said base in side-by-side, proximal relationship to each other to define a line of hair concentration along the length of said pair of pieces.
 16. In the hair structure as claimed in claim 15, wherein said attaching means includes a secondary ribbon having opposed, longitudinally extending edge portions, the ribbons of said pair of pieces being secured to said secondary ribbon along one of said edge portions, the opposite edge portion of said secondary ribbon being attached to said base.
 17. In the hair structure as claimed in claim 15, wherein each of the ribbons of said pair of pieces presents a pair of opposed major surfaces, and wherein said number of strands of hair of each of said pair of pieces comprises a pair of wefts secured to respective surfaces of the ribbon adjacent said edge, whereby to provide each of said pair of pieces with a double weft to further increase the hair concentration along said line.
 18. A method of constructing a hair stRucture having a base, said method comprising the steps of: first attaching at least one weft of hair to one edge of a flexible ribbon, and thereafter fixing the other edge of said flexible ribbon to said base in such a manner that said weft may move in two directions transversely of said ribbon as the expanse of ribbon material between the weft attachment and the base attachment flexes.
 19. A method of constructing a hair structure wherein the hair thereon is adapted to fall in opposite directions to give a reversible hair structure having two different appearances when worn, and wherein said hair structure has a base, said method comprising the steps of: attaching a plurality of wefts of hair each to one edge of a plurality of flexible ribbons, and thereafter fixing the other edges of said ribbons to said base in a generally parallel configuration and in such a manner that a transverse expanse of ribbon material remains between the weft attachment and the base attachment of each ribbon. 